The long-running fraud case involving alleged serial fraudster Fred Ajudua hit another wall on Friday after he was not brought before the Special Offences Court in Ikeja, Lagos, forcing the proceedings to be postponed yet again.
Justice M. A. Dada was set to continue the trial on 28 November 2025, but the session came to an abrupt halt when Ajudua’s lawyer, Olalekan Ojo (SAN), told the court that his client, who remains in custody, had not been produced by officials of the Nigeria Correctional Service.
The court also confirmed receiving a formal letter from the Service explaining the situation, though the details were not immediately disclosed.
Prosecuting counsel, S. K. Atteh, said he had no prior knowledge of the letter until it was presented in the courtroom. He raised no objection to an adjournment but noted the unusual manner in which the communication reached the court without the prosecution’s awareness.
Mr Ojo (SAN) pointed out that the Correctional Service had failed to indicate when Fred Ajudua would be brought before the judge. He therefore asked the court to select a fresh date in the new year to allow time for the authorities to put their house in order.
Justice Dada accepted the request and adjourned the matter to Thursday, 19 January 2026, for continuation of the trial.
Ajudua is accused of receiving 1,043,000 dollars from Abu Zalaf under false pretences. The case, which began in 2005 before Justice M. O. Obadina, has suffered repeated delays over the years, with various legal manoeuvres and adjournment requests slowing its progress.
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